PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leopold Raskalnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and jean claude vann dam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leopold Raskalnikov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Raskalnikov
vs
claude vann dam

190 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Drago's Choice

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leopold Raskalnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, jean claude vann dam!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raskalnikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
vann dam avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Raskalnikov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Raskalnikov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Excellent takedown into side control there by vann dam.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

vann dam decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Raskalnikov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
vann dam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raskalnikov.
Good work by Raskalnikov as he checks the leg kick.

vann dam instigates a clinch.
Raskalnikov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
vann dam just leaning against Raskalnikov, taking a breather.
Raskalnikov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
vann dam managing to block the knees to the body from Raskalnikov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raskalnikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from vann dam.
Raskalnikov trying to land knees to the body.
Raskalnikov is trying to maintain a safe position but vann dam gets an underhook and turns Raskalnikov into the cage.
vann dam slows down the pace here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
vann dam managing to block the knees to the body from Raskalnikov.

vann dam breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Raskalnikov.
vann dam tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

vann dam instigates a clinch.
vann dam avoiding damage as Raskalnikov throws knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from vann dam.

Raskalnikov manages to break the clinch.
vann dam throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Leopold Raskalnikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crunch! Raskalnikov slams his shin into vann dam's torso.
Raskalnikov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Raskalnikov misses with a leg kick

and vann dam counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by vann dam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raskalnikov can't break the clinch.
Raskalnikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Raskalnikov is breathing heavily.

Raskalnikov breaks the clinch.
Raskalnikov closes the distance looking to clinch

and vann dam counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Raskalnikov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Raskalnikov wants to get back to his feet but vann dam is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
vann dam sitting in guard, not really doing much.
vann dam must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
vann dam looking to pass the guard.
Raskalnikov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
vann dam looking to sit in guard and control but Raskalnikov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
vann dam has a closed guard, preventing Raskalnikov from standing up.

Raskalnikov stands up from vann dam's guard - Raskalnikov perhaps looking for a knockout.

vann dam closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

jean claude vann dam dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

vann dam moves into the clinch successfully.

Raskalnikov manages to break the clinch.
vann dam thuds a left hand into Raskalnikov's body.
Raskalnikov scores with a kick to the body.
vann dam takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like jean claude vann dam has been cut.
Raskalnikov tries to clinch

and vann dam counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Raskalnikov keeping moving, preventing vann dam from controlling successfully.
Raskalnikov looking to hit a scissor sweep but vann dam is one step ahead there.
Raskalnikov is looking to stand up but vann dam isn't so interested in that idea.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raskalnikov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
vann dam working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
vann dam wants to control from the top but Raskalnikov keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Raskalnikov throws a sloppy head kick

and vann dam counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by vann dam.
Raskalnikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from vann dam.
Knees in the clinch landing for Raskalnikov.
vann dam keeps control of Raskalnikov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raskalnikov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
vann dam's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Raskalnikov stalling in the clinch but vann dam improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raskalnikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from vann dam.
Raskalnikov landing knees to the head.
Raskalnikov tries to land knees in the clinch but vann dam avoids the damage to the body.
vann dam on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
vann dam jumps guard but Raskalnikov stands there with vann dam around his waist. vann dam gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

vann dam manages to break the clinch.

vann dam gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
vann dam stalling.
Raskalnikov has had enough of the clinch but vann dam keeps him there for the moment.

vann dam breaks the clinch.

vann dam instigates a clinch.

vann dam successfully pulls guard.
Raskalnikov preventing the sweep.
Raskalnikov wants to control from the top but vann dam keeps moving.
Raskalnikov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raskalnikov stands up from vann dam's guard - Raskalnikov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Raskalnikov works vann dam's body with a nice hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Raskalnikov misses with a knee strike.
vann dam jumps guard but Raskalnikov stands there with vann dam around his waist. vann dam gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Raskalnikov tries to land knees in the clinch but vann dam avoids the damage to the body.
Raskalnikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from vann dam.
vann dam avoiding damage as Raskalnikov throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but jean claude vann dam will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on jean claude vann dam's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Raskalnikov pivots, looking for a leg kick but vann dam is out of range and Raskalnikov settles back down.
vann dam wants to clinch up but Raskalnikov keeps it at a distance.

vann dam closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
vann dam tries to advance to mount but Raskalnikov denies him.
Raskalnikov is looking to reverse the position.
Raskalnikov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raskalnikov is trying to control vann dam's posture but vann dam avoids it.

vann dam decides to stand up, so the ref orders Raskalnikov to his feet.
vann dam sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
vann dam will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Raskalnikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Raskalnikov tries to land a front kick but vann dam steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Raskalnikov throws a sloppy head kick and vann dam moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick by vann dam misses
and Raskalnikov counters with a body kick.

Raskalnikov clinches up with vann dam and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
vann dam avoiding damage as Raskalnikov throws knees to the body.
Raskalnikov missing with knees to the body.
Raskalnikov tries to land knees in the clinch but vann dam avoids the damage to the body.

vann dam jumps guard and drags Raskalnikov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
vann dam is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Raskalnikov is trying to stand up here but vann dam is controlling him well.
vann dam trying to control the pace.
Raskalnikov is not content to let vann dam control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
vann dam working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Raskalnikov's thigh. Raskalnikov counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Raskalnikov keeping moving, preventing vann dam from controlling successfully.
vann dam passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
vann dam looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Leopold Raskalnikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
vann dam is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Raskalnikov manages to get to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raskalnikov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
jean claude vann dam comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got vann dam winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... jean claude vann dam!